By watching commercials on TV I’ve learned this is the year for imbibing various kinds of alcohol drinks inspired by apples: hard cider, angry ale, Redd’s Apple Ale and others are all over the screen.

There has always been sangria, and rum using apples has been around for a long time. Apple wine has been made in many a farmer’s barn or basement for years.

I remember one time when I was listing an auction on a farm southeast of Indianapolis and we were out in the garage looking over some shop tools and antiques. From the upstairs of the garage we would from time to time hear a noise that sounded like a 600-pound frog belching.

My curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask the owner what the devil was making that sound.

He smiled as he told me he was making some barrels of apple jack and the sounds were the apple jack “turning over” in the barrels.

I never got back there to see how it tastes, but I can sure tell you how it sounds.

Another Apple Booze

8 cups apple cider

1 apple (slice it crosswise in very thin slices)

1 orange, sliced thin crosswise

1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced thin

2 cinnamon sticks

2 cups dark rum

Use a big kettle for making this. Put the ingredients from the cider through the cinnamon sticks into the kettle. Heat it up using high heat until it boils.

Then, immediately turn down the heat to a simmer and continue simmering for 5 minutes.

Take the kettle off the heat and stir in the rum. A big wooden spoon works best for stirring the drink together.

When it cools enough so it won’t burn the roof of your mouth, ladle this into cups or mugs and serve.

If you drink enough of this you’ll be surprised how quickly spring and summer arrive.

Readers with questions or comments for Dave Kessler may write to him in care of this publication.